Robert Hooks (born Bobby Dean Hooks; April 18, 1937) is an American actor, producer, and activist. At NEC, he helped guide the companys productions to 11 Obie Awards, 2 Tony Awards, 4 Vernon Rice Drama Desk Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, one Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and other distinguished theatre awards. NATHANIEL G. NESMITH: Mr. Hooks, you were born and grew up in Washington, D.C., the youngest of five children. A phone number associated with this person is (252) 237-3166 , and we have 5 other possible phone numbers in the same local area codes 252 and 910 . Kevin Hooks (born September 19, 1958) is an American actor, and a television and film director; he is notable for his roles in Aaron Loves Angela and Sounder, but may be best known as Morris Thorpe from TV's The White Shadow. The a capella group Sweet Honey in the Rock was created and developed within its workshop process. 1750 in DuplinCounty, North Carolina. We were trying to get the industry to open its doors and level the playing field for Blacks to come into the industry as producers, directors, writers, whatever. According to New York Times, Robert Hooks is also a founder of the Negro Ensemble Company, a theater group in Manhattan of which he was the executive director from 1965 to 1978. In the interview below, Robert Hooks explained how Sidney Poitier and Douglas Turner Ward, encouraged him to relocate from Philadelphia to New York on pretty much a wing and a prayer to hopefully spark a successful acting career. Thats what I want to be remembered by. Age: 68 years old . Their names are . Al Freeman Jr. was reading the role of Clay. There are 3 director records in this entity. I befriended them, and we were friends over the years. She didnt ask me, she told me I was going to be in the play. It formulated strategies and training for securing entry-level jobs. He also won an Emmy for his PBS special, Voices of Our People. View Profile. (Davis) Hooks and was a lifelong resident of the community. Its yours. From 1978 to 1981, he played Morris Thorpe- the high school basketball player who had a problem with authority, in hit TV show, White Shadow. For those who arent familiar with White Shadow, heres a quick rundown: The show was about a former Caucasian Chicago Bull player becoming a high school coach in South Central Los Angeles. Simply put, Kevins dad is a legend and if you dont know who he is, get ready to learn a lil somethin today ILOSM fam., Meet Kevin Hooks father, actor Robert Hooks. Has two children with present wife, Cheryl. He and I had a few little problems with how I was interpreting my character, who starts off as a Pullman porter, then goes into the military, after which he becomes a Civil Rights advocate. Robert Hooks was born on 18 April 1937 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. If youre from the Old School era of the late 1970s/early 80s, you more than likely are very familiar with actor, Kevin Hooks (59). 18 July] 1635 - 3 March 1703) was an English natural philosopher, architect and polymath. 164, 2018 Visionary Founder and Creator Award D.C. Black Repertory Company on its 47th anniversary, Emory University - Robert Hooks Collection, This page was last edited on 27 January 2023, at 04:41. Immediately thereafter, on March 24, 1964 he originated the role of Clay in Amiri Baraka's Dutchman. I know the role; I know all the lines; I know all the lines of everybody in the show. He said, Well, do you mind if I have a script? In 1980, you, Sidney Poitier, Maya Angelou, Brock Peters, and Cicely Tyson went to Washington to testify before Congress on the state of Black artists in the entertainment industry. shobrob52@yahoo.com . What happened the night of the actual televised Tony Awards to the world was a weird and mind-blowing experience for me. Yes, it was Phil Rose that I almost took out coming out of the elevator.Phil Rose asked his assistant to bring a script in so he could audition me. Occupation. Hooks attended Stevens Elementary School. Hooks worked as a director and producer on the series Prison Break. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. In 1991, Hooks directed the film Strictly Business, and also appeared in one scene opposite Kim Coles. . I get to the theatre. Let me ask you three questions together on this one:How did you make this happen? Robert Hooks talks about his experience at Stevens Elementary School in Washington, D.C. Robert Hooks talks about acting in his first play, 'The Pirates of Penzance', Robert Hooks talks about being in his first play when he was nine years old, Robert Hooks talks about falling in love with the stage at nine years old, Robert Hooks talks about what he did for fun as a child, Robert Hooks describes his junior and high school education, Robert Hooks talks about going for a joy ride in a car, Robert Hooks talks about getting into a fight while in a receiving home for juvenile delinquents for three days, Robert Hooks talks about his stepfather and step-siblings, Robert Hooks talks about his experience at West Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Robert Hooks talks about having a crush on his drama teacher at West Philadelphia High School, Robert Hooks talks about his first child, Cecelia Ann, Robert Hooks talks about being shut out of his second daughter, Michelle's, life, Robert Hooks talks about his teachers at West Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Robert Hooks talks about enjoying jazz in high school and his high school classmate HistoryMaker McCoy Tyner, Robert Hooks talks about studying at the Bessie V. Hicks School of Drama in Philadelphia from 1957 to 1958, Robert Hooks talks about seeing 'A Raisin in the Sun' for the first time, Robert Hooks talks about his first night in New York City, staying in a YMCA and visiting Birdland, Robert Hooks talks about his first experiences in Harlem, New York in 1959, Robert Hooks talks about multiple jobs he had when he first moved to New York City in 1959, Robert Hooks talks about meeting Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X in 1960, Robert Hooks talks about auditioning for 'A Raisin in the Sun', Robert Hooks talks about people he met while acting in 'A Raisin in the Sun', Robert Hooks talks about his political activities, Robert Hooks talks about his first wife Yvonne and his sons Kevin and Eric, Robert Hooks tells the story of how HistoryMaker Douglas Turner Ward took over the role of Walter Lee Younger, pt. Acting is fine, and the credits are nice and all that, but thats not why Im in this industry. 2, Robert Hooks reflects on the reasons it is a struggle to produce good films about the African American experience, Robert Hooks talks about his experience struggling to convince influential African Americans in Hollywood to read his scripts, Robert Hooks talks about the obstacles in Hollywood for independent African American filmmakers, Robert Hooks talks about independent African American filmmakers finding alternative ways to complete their projects, Robert Hooks talks about his idea for a cooperative African American production company, Robert Hooks talks about African Americans in Hollywood not using their leverage to help other African Americans, Robert Hooks talks about his tribute to playwright Lonne Elder III, Robert Hooks talks about his favorite movies in which he has acted, Robert Hooks talks about his favorite plays in which he has acted, Robert Hooks talks about the highlights of his career, Robert Hooks talks about how he would like to be remembered, Occupation(s): When you support American Theatre magazine and TCG, you support a long legacy of quality nonprofit arts journalism. Hooks is the father of actor, television and film director Kevin Hooks. I almost fell to the floor in shock. Single . Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 40s Robert W Hooks II Pascagoula, MS View Full Report Addresses 13th St, Pascagoula, MS Great Oaks Rd, Germantown, TN Support American Theatre: a just and thriving theatre ecology begins with information for all. But she wasnt. We had a training program; incidentally, the Group Theatre Workshop, my early company, became the training program for the NEC. Al never did the play at all onstage. I couldnt get into Sidney Poitiers dressing room because it was too crowded; I couldnt get into Claudia McNeils dressing room because it was also too crowded. Distinguished actor Robert Hooks was born Bobby Dean Hooks on April 18, 1937, in Washington, D.C. And Ive enjoyed doing things for other people, starting all the way back to the Group Theatre Workshop with those kids I got off the streets of New York when they didnt have any place to go. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Robert Hooks We found 100+ records for Robert Hooks in MS, TN and 34 other states. He attended Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Robert Alex "Bobby" Hooks, Jr., 57, of Wills Point was born February 4, 1954 in Wills Point, Texas, the son of Robert Alex Hooks, Sr. and Cynthia Louise Gready Hooks. 806 Dennis St, Camden, AR, 71701-6154. Official Sites, He is father of actor turned director/producer. Your email address will not be published. Bob is. ROBERT HOOKS: We grew up in whats called the Foggy Bottom in segregated Washington, maybe 10 blocks from the White House, but still segregated Washington. Hooks lived in Southwest, Washington, D.C. in the late-1970s. The adults were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress Oscars respectively for their performances. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Robert A. Hooks Jr. I said, Ed Hall told me about it. I spoke to Hooks, now 85, earlier this year about his extraordinary career. From 1969 to 1972, Hooks served as an original board member of Black Academy of Arts and Letters, located in New York, alongside C. Eric Lincoln, President; John O. Killens, Alvin F. Poussaint, and Charles White. Robert Hooks was married to Maureen E. (Ward) Hooks on March 12, 1977 in Van zandt County, Texas and they separated on March 29, 1991 in Dallas County. He was born in Asheboro, NC on April 15, 1954. As he continues his career, it is expected that his wealth will also continue to increase. Robert Hooks (born Bobby Dean Hooks; April 18, 1937) is an American actor, producer, and activist. WILMINGTON Robert Reid Hooks Sr., 67, passed away Monday, April 19, 2021, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Relatives. In Dreamer, Robert Hooks Jr. shares his remarkable story. We would constantly do backers auditions. And there was this small, very energetic Asian woman who was an employee in the sweatshop, Yuri Kochiyama, who also worked to protect the sweatshop employees against management and the owners. Some of his other television series credits include The White Shadow, Trapper John M.D., WKRP in Cincinnati, Sister Sister, M.A.N.T.I.S., The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Family Matters, A Different World, Clueless, Diagnosis Murder, and Seinfeld. [11], In 2021, Emory University began adding to its official archives material documenting Hooks' career, including scripts, printed material, contracts and financial records, notes, correspondence, writings, books and periodicals, audiovisual and digital files. Robert Hooks talks about his mother's family background, Robert Hooks talks about his father's family background, Robert Hooks describes his earliest childhood memory. I was doing The Blacks and producer Sidney Bernstein came back to the dressing roomsand said we were going to have a surprise that nightthat Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta, were coming to see the play.Now, Im doing one of the plays leads, Deodatus Village, which is just a great role. Who else lives with 405 E Busbee St at ? Hooks, Robert T. Jr. Rev. 4 John Frank Hooks. Members of the board are appointed both by The Carter Center and Emory University, with the president of Emory serving as an ex-officio member. The case turned on a . In 1954, just as Brown vs. Board of Education was being implemented in the north, he moved to Philadelphia to be with his mother, her second husband, and his half-sister, Safia Abdullah (ne Sharon Dickerson). We were friends with congressmen and congresswomen. These days, the brotha is still happy, healthy, and married at 83. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; So as you can see, acting was in their blood because they had their Pops set a great example for them. This important theater company has gone on to produce plays by Peter Weiss, Derek Walcott, Wole Soyinka, and many other playwrights. Im blown away. He was previously married to Yvonne Hickman and Rosie Lee Hooks. According to police spokeswoman Jennifer Dandron, the elder Hooks allegedly fired multiple shots about 3:15 p.m. in the 600 block of Bonham Avenue. I came in to replace the brilliant James Earl Jones in that role and had worked my ass off onstage to make the role my own. His relocation to the West Coast redirected Hooks' approach to parity in the arts with his involvement with The Bay Area Multicultural Arts Initiative (1988) as a board member and grant facilitator-judge. The night when Dr. and Mrs. King are in the audience and enjoying the show, Im centerstage as Village delivering a commanding monologue. Det. The movie was popular locally[citation needed] and praised by fans,[who?] You actually played Clay in the original stage version of LeRoi Jones/Amiri Barakas Dutchman in 1964. His adult life comprised three distinct periods: as a scientific inquirer lacking money; achieving great wealth and standing through his reputation for hard work and scrupulous honesty following the great fire of 1666, but . Detective Frank Runyon and Detention Officer Robert Hooks, Jr. were honored for performance which exceeded that "which is required by the officer's normal assignment," according to a press release from the Sheriff's Office. He asked me how I knew about the role, since they hadnt even officially announced it. Hooks appeared in the hit 1972 movie Sounder as the pre-teen elder son of Paul Winfield's and Cicely Tyson's characters, providing the point of view of the film. Bail is set at $50,000 for Hooks Sr., and $3,000 for Hooks Jr. Reporter F.T. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. The Group Theatre Workshop was folded into the tuition-free training arm of the Negro Ensemble Company founded in 1967 with Douglas Turner Ward and Gerald S. Krone[3] with a $1.3 million grant from the Ford Foundation under the auspices of W. McNeil Lowry.[2][8]. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Robert Hooks Jr. . Norton can be reached at 910-343-2070 or Fran.Norton@StarNewsOnline.com. What would you like to share about that experience? Hooks, as founder and executive director, asked Denise Nicholas, Denzel Washington, James Earl Jones, Laurence Fishburne, Richard Roundtree, Samuel L. Jackson, all alumni from New York Negro Ensemble Company to serve as board members. Born Bobby Dean Hooks into the rat-infested Foggy Bottom of segregated Washington, DC in 1937, a product of the post-Depression Northern Migration, the story of Robert Hooks' life, in many ways, characterizes the turbulent growing pains of an America which is still struggling to come to terms with its racial history. My oldest sister, Bernice, was a recreational counselor in the summer; she would do things and events for the community. Eventually The Inner Voices performed more than 500 times in other prisons, including a Christmas special entitled, "Holidays, Hollowdays." Remember him? I was in my first year of high school at West Philadelphia High. Alumni include Antonio Fargas, Hattie Winston, and Daphne Maxwell Reid. I changed it when I did Dutchman, because my dear friend Roscoe Lee Browne came on opening night to see me in that, and we went out for drinks afterwards and he says, Youve got to get rid of thatBobby Dean. Im sitting out in the house after we did our performance. It was a very interesting experience, and I will remember it for the rest of my life. He performed in his first play, The Pirates of Penzance, at the age of nine. Current address. "Bob" Hooks, age 74, a longtime resident of Naperville, IL, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2020, at Arista of Naperville. While it is the norm now, it was then a revolutionary attempt at rehabilitation through the arts. I saw the play in previews in Philadelphia, the first Black play I had ever seen in my life, the experience prompted me, a few months later, to just pack up and move to New York, because I knew I wanted it. I was nine years old when I started acting. Robert Hooks was born on April 18, 1937 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. I had personally helped him in doing it. Im not going to be in some play. He married Lorrie Gay Marlow[10] (actress, author, artist) on June 15, 2008. The introduction summarizes the psychological tyranny inflicted on Africans and their descendants over the course of enslavement and Jim Crow. Leaders of organizations like NAACP, Martins organization SCLC, SNCC, and CORE would raise needed operational funds in New York City. Hes made guest appearances in numerous television series, as well as appearing in a number of films. A black New York career girl, who has made it big in the fashion world, is torn between her new life "downtown" and her roots in Harlem with an old boyfriend. Man, she was so brilliant every night. Hooks next major opportunity would be in the 1972 film Sounder, in which he played Paul Winfields characters pre-teen elder son, needing to be the man of the family during the Depression Paul along with Cicely Tyson would be nominated for Academy Awards for their performances. in same area on 5/26/1757. Robert Hooks was born on April 18, 1937 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He was born April 15, 1954, in Asheboro. By then, Raisin was a big smash hit on Broadway. Heres the thing, what many fans didnt know at that time, is that as we were watching Kevin Hooks do his thing on White Shadow, we were also watching his Pops play roles in other various TV shows and films. Hooks father died while working on a railroad track. Previously, he was married to Yvonne Hickman and Rosie Lee Hooks. In response to a direct plea from an inmate, Rhozier "Roach" Brown, who was serving a life sentence in Lorton, Hooks' D.C. Black Repertory Company structured the first prison-based arts program in the United States. I had a wonderful relationship with Tennessee, and with several of the other people in the play, including Tab Hunter, who was doing his first Broadway play at the time. His television career began in 1963 with the role of a police detective on the television series East Side/West Side. Nathaniel G. Nesmith (he/him)holds an MFA in playwriting and a Ph.D. in theatre from Columbia University. She opens the envelope, and she looks over my way and she said, The winner is Robert. I actually had gotten up and I am out of my seat, I was on my way out to the aisleand she finished, Goulet. And there I stood in the aisle, looking like a fool. In April 1960, as Bobby Dean Hooks, he made his Broadway debut in A Raisin in the Sun replacing Louis Gossett Jr. who would be doing the film version. Hooks played the lead in his first play The Pirates of Penzance at the age of nine. 2, Robert Hooks talks about visiting black communities all across the country while on the road with 'A Raisin in the Sun', Robert Hooks talks about getting a role in the play 'A Taste of Honey', Robert Hooks talks about 'Voices of Our People', Robert Hooks talks about performing in front of his family and friends in Washington, D.C. in 'A Taste of Honey', Robert Hooks talks about his first time singing on Broadway in 'A Taste of Honey', Robert Hooks talks about joining the cast of 'The Blacks', Robert Hooks talks about the plot of 'The Blacks' and the playwright Jean Genet, Robert Hooks describes the plot of 'Dutchman' by Amiri Baraka, Robert Hooks talks about fundraising to support civil rights efforts in the South, Robert Hooks talks about beginning to work with young people in his community, Chelsea, New York, and teaching them about theater, Robert Hooks talks about the formation of the Group Theater Workshop, Robert Hooks talks about HistoryMaker Douglas Turner Howard's plays 'Happy Ending' and 'Day of Absence', Robert Hooks talks about producing HistoryMaker Douglas Turner Ward's two plays, 'Happy Ending' and 'Day of Absence', Robert Hooks acts out the plot of HistoryMaker Douglas Turner Ward's play 'Happy Ending', Robert Hooks compares the work of HistoryMaker Douglas Turner Ward and Amiri Baraka, Robert Hooks talks about the formation of the Negro Ensemble Company, Robert Hooks talks about the leadership of the Negro Ensemble Company, Robert Hooks talks about the success of the Negro Ensemble Company, Robert Hooks talks about raising money for the Civil Rights Movement with his celebrity friends, Robert Hooks talks about his friendship with HistoryMaker Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier, Robert Hooks talks about acting in his first movie 'Sweet Love Bitter' which debuted in 1967, pt. Robert Hooks Jr. Located in South Central Los Angeles, this was a film and television training center established to guide individuals who aspired to careers in film production. You replaced actors in many of your Broadway roles, but in Tiger Tiger Burning Bright in 1962, you finally created your own role with the character Dewey Chipley. It was a great and life-changing experience for me. I stood in the middle of the floor with Malcolm. Not too many other theatre companies can say that. Robert Hooks was born Bobby Dean Hooks on April 18, 1937, in Foggy Bottom, Washington D.C., to Mae Bertha Ward and Edward Hooks. It was fun. But I ran up Broadway to 57th Street, 10 blocks up Broadway to get to Phil Roses office to audition, to be Lou Gossetts replacement in the biggest Black play on Broadway. For his personal life, it is known that Kevin was married to Regina from 1978 to 84, and has since been married to Cheryl,and they have two children. 2, Robert Hooks talks about meeting Harold Curlman, one of the founders of Group Theatre, Robert Hooks talks about getting a phone call from Otto Preminger to act in 'Hurry Sundown', Robert Hooks talks about being shot at while filming the movie 'Hurry Sundown' in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Robert Hooks talks about being kicked out of a restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana while filming 'Hurry Sundown', Robert Hooks talks about having the N-word written on his door while filming 'Hurry Sundown' in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Robert Hooks talks about the plays he acted in during the 1960s, Robert Hooks talks about his admiration for Sidney Poitier, Robert Hooks talks about the beginning of his television career, Robert Hooks talks about being approached to star in the television series 'N.Y.P.D. Principal at MPS Greater Milwaukee1 connection Join to connect MPS Experience Principal MPS See who you know in common Get introduced Contact Robert directly IVEY JONES. Birth. What the hell is going on? I told him. He is a celebrity Actor, Film Producer, Film Director. [1] Along with Douglas Turner Ward and Gerald S. Krone, he founded The Negro Ensemble Company. There has been so much shared about how the Negro Ensemble Company came into existence. Tonys on the apron of the stage and theyre talking, and I walk in, and Tony looks at me as if to say, Come on, Bobby, Im rehearsing here. I walked over to Tallulah and I whispered in her ear that John F. Kennedy had just been shot and hes dead in Dallas. Hooks other film credits include Airport '77 (1977) and Posse (1993). I didnt want to yellIm nine years old, and there was no noise in bedso I tearfully relented and agreed to do the play. Relation. He directed Wesley Snipes in Passenger 57, Laurence Fishburne and Stephen Baldwin in Fled, and also Patrick Swayze in Black Dog.